Apparatus for automatically adjusting room temperatures

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an apparatus for obtaining suitable room temperatures according to every change of season, the environs of working places or office rooms. The apparatus of the present invention consists of two heatsensitive semiconductors showing the characteristics of transition of a semiconductor and a metal phase and two heating bodies of different resistance values attached to the semiconductors to constitute two heater-type heat-sensitive elements, each heating body being connected to an electric source, so as to cause heating from said heating body on one hand, and on the other hand, one end of each of the two heatsensitive semiconductors being connected to the gate of a silicon-control element communicating with a load, namely, the circuit of a cooler and a heater so that the indirectly heated temperature of the cooler or heater can be automatically adjusted by determining the actuating point of the heat-sensitive bodies, namely, the range of changes in room temperature, due to the adjustment of electric current flowing in the circuit of the heating bodies.

United States Patent Mikio Yamazaki; Naomasa Sunano, both of Ayabe,Japan [21] Appl. No. 215

[72] Inventors [22] Filed Jan. 2, 1970 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 [73]Assignee Shinyei Co., Inc.

Ikuta-ku, Kobe, Japan [32] Priority Jan. 7, 1969 Jill 44/1611 [54]APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY-ADJUSTING ROOM TEMPERATURES PrimaryExaminer-Charles Sukalo Anamey-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack ABSTRACT: Thisinvention relates to an apparatus for obtaining suitable roomtemperatures according to every change of season, the environs ofworking places or office rooms.

The apparatus of the present invention consists of two heatsensitivesemiconductors showing the characteristics of transition of asemiconductor and a metal phase and two heating bodies of differentresistance values attached to the semiconductors to constitute twoheater-type heat-sensitive elements, each heating body being connectedto an electric source, so as to cause heating from said heating body onone hand, and on the other hand, one end of each of the twoheat-sensitive semiconductors being connected to the gate of asilicon-control element communicating with a load, namely, the circuitof a cooler and a heater so that the indirectly heated temperature ofthe cooler or heater can be automatically adjusted by determining theactuating point of the heat-sensitive bodies, namely, the range ofchanges in room temperature, due to the adjustment of electric currentflowing in the circuit of the heating bodies.

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PATENTED SEP2 8 I87! sum 2 0r 2 MIKIO YAMAZAKI and NAOMASA SUNANO,

ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING ROOM TEMPERATURES FIELDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for maintainingsuitable room temperatures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various inconvenient factors have heretoforebeen encountered in the automatic adjustment of temperatures in houses,working places and other places as well, particularly with electricadjustment mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With a view to obviating the above-mentionedinconvenient factors, it is the primary object of the present inventionto provide an apparatus for obtaining desired temperatures in any place,whether at home or in any working place.

Thus, the present invention consists in ofiering an apparatus capable ofensuring maintenance of suitable temperatures while accounting forsurrounding environment temperature changes.

The invention will be explained in detail by way of several embodimentswith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an apparatus forcontrolling temperatures, which is adapted to be actuated by low voltageor a direct current source.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the characteristics of resistance andtemperature given by the indirectly heated heat-sensitive elements inthe circuits for cooling and also indirectly heated heat-sensitiveelements in the circuits for heating of the present invention, withreference to the electric circuits as shown in FIG. I etc., thusindicating the establishment of some difference in temperature withreference to the characteristics of resistance and temperature of bothindirectly heated heatsensitive elements.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a circuit in an apparatus for automaticallycontrolling the operation of a cooler and a heater by an electric sourceof high voltage and alternating current, namely, an electric circuitconsisting of indirectly heated heatsensitive elements possessed of thesame characteristics as those shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a circuit in an apparatus for automaticallycontrolling the operation of a cooler and a heater by an electric sourceof high voltage and alternating current in a manner similar to thatshown in FIG. 3, namely, another preferred example of a circuitconsisting of indirectly heated heat-sensitive elements with the samecharacteristics of resistance and temperature as those shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in the accompanyingdrawings, the present invention consists of providing two heat-sensitivesemiconductors having certain resistance and temperature characteristicsunder the same load, to which are attached two heating bodies ofdifferent resistance values, respectively, to constitute two indirectlyheated, heater-type heat-sensitive elements activatable at differentheating temperatures. The heat-sensitive semiconductor of one of the twoindirectly heated heat-sensitive elements is disposed between the gateof a silicon-control element connected to the circuit of a cooler and apartial voltage resistor connected to an electric source, and theheating body thereof is connected to the electric source. Theheat-sensitive semiconductor of the other indirectly heatedheat-sensitive element is disposed between the gate of a silicon-controlelement connected to the circuit of a heater and the electric source,and the heating body incorporated therein is also connected to theelectric source. A temperature difference due to sudden change inresistance is maintained between the heatertype heat-sensitive elementscapable of controlling the operation of the silicon-control elements ofthe circuits of the cooler and the heater, thereby permitting freeselection of the actuating temperature of the cooler and also that ofthe heater. Namely, two heater-type heat-sensitive elements activatableat temperatures due to sudden changes in resistance are connected to thecontrol circuits of the cooler and the heater, respectively, whereby itis made possible that when a certain surrounding temperature is reached,the cooler is actuated on one hand and when another surroundingtemperature is reached, the heater is actuated on the other hand, and atthe same time, the room temperature can be adjusted suitably bymaintaining or freely changing a difference in the actuatingtemperatures of the cooler and the heater.

Still further, the invention will be explained in more detail withreference to the accompanying.

In FIG. 1, the temperature control apparatus consists of a cooler M, anda silicon-control element A connected together in series, and voltagefrom an electric source is provided between one end of the cooler M, andthe principle terminal 2 of the silicon-control element A. A heatingbody Rh, of a heater-type heat-sensitive element 5,, l a partial-voltageresistor R, for temperature-compensating purposes and a variahieresistor Rv, are connected together in series. Now, voltage from theelectric source is provided between the heating body Rh, and thevariable resistor Rv, and at the same time, a heatsensitivesemiconductor Rt, of the heater-type heat-sensitive element S, isdisposed between the junction of the heating body Rh, and thepartial-voltage resistor R, for temperaturecompensating purposes, andthe terminal of the gate of the silicon-control element A so that it ispossible to control the electric current of the gate of thesilicon-control element A on the basis of change in resistance of theheat-sensitive semiconductor Rt, along with the change in thesurrounding temperature, thereby permitting current control between theprinciple terminal 2 of the silicon-control element A and its outletprinciple terminal 1. Similarly, the heater M, is connected to asilicon-control element B in series and voltage from the electric sourceis provided on both ends thereof. Moreover, the heating body Rh, of aheater-type heat-sensitive element S, is connected in series to avariable resistor Rv,, and in parallel to a heat-sensitive semiconductorRt, through a partial-voltage resistor R, for temperature-compensatingpurposes. The junction between the partial-voltage resistor R, and theheat-sensitive semiconductor Rt, is joined to the terminal of a gate ofthe silicon-control element B to permit voltage control of the gate ofthe silicon-control element 18 on the basis of the change in resistanceof the heat-sensitive semiconductor Rt,, based on the change in thesurrounding temperature, thereby enabling the heater M, to be actuated.

Although the characteristics of resistance and temperature of theheat-sensitive semiconductor Rt, and Rt, of the abovementionedheater-type heat-sensitive elements S, and S,, respecu'vely, show thesame sudden drop in resistance at a certain temperature such as 65 C.,the resistances of the heating bodies Rh, and Rh, are different. Thusthe difference D (as shown in FIG. 2) between the room temperatures Tc,and TC, at which heat-sensitive elements S, and S, are actuable is dueto characteristics of resistance and temperature a and b, respectively.Therefore, it is possible to change the range of the above-mentioneddifference D in temperature by changing the heating temperatures of theheating bodies Rh, and Rh,.

Namely, the characteristics a of resistance and temperature may bechanged due to the indirectly heated temperature of the heat-sensitiveelement S, on one hand and the characteristics b of resistance andtemperature may be changed due to the indirectly heated heat-sensitiveelement S, on the other hand. Consequently it is possible to maintainroom temperature at a suitable level by changing the difference D intemperature between the temperatures Tc, and Tc, due to sudden changesin resistance of the heater-type heat-sensitive elements S, and 5,.

For example, when the surrounding temperature between the heater-typeheat-sensitive elements S, and 8,, namely,

room temperature at this instant is found to be higher than thetemperature Tc,, then a sudden change in resistance, occurs, and R, Rt,.Thus the voltage drop at Rt, is so minor that electric current isdestined to flow in the circuit of the gate of the silicon-controlelement A thereby causing electric current between the principleterminal 2 of the silicon-control element A and the principle terminal 1thereof for actuating the operation of the cooler. At the same time,since R, Rt, in the heater-type heat-sensitive element 8,, voltage isprovided on both ends of the partial voltage resistor R, so that nosufficient voltage is provided on the terminal of the gate of thesilicon-control element B and then no electric current may flow betweenterminals 3 and 4 of the silicon-control element B for actuating theoperation of the heater M,.

In this manner, when room temperature is found to be higher than thetemperature Tc,, a sudden change in resistance occurs, and thesilicon-control element A remains in the electrically conductivecondition whereas the silicon-control element B remains in theelectrically nonconductive condition.

On the other hand, when room temperature is found to be lower than thetemperature Tc,, then a sudden change in resistance occurs and producesa condition contrary to that above mentioned.

In other words, since the relationship between the heat-sensitivesemiconductor Rt, of the heater-type heat-sensitive element S, and theresistance R, for temperature-compensating purposes shows R, Rt,, nosufficient current will flow to the terminal of the gate of thesilicon-control element, with the result that there occurs no electriccurrent flowing towards the principle terminal 1 from the principleterminal 2 of the silicon-control element A, because of which the coolerM, is not actuated. However, there occurs the relationship R Rt betweenthe heat-sensitive semiconductor Rt; of the heater type heat-sensitiveelement S, and the resistor R thereof because of which the voltagebetween both terminals of the heater-type resistor Rh, is almostprovided between both terminals of the heat-sensitive semiconductor RtThat is to say, since said voltage is provided on the gate of thesilicon-control element B, the circuit from the principle terminal 3 ofthe silicon-control element B towards the principle terminal 4 is in theelectrically conductive condition so as to actuate the heater M, in sucha manner that it automatically maintains room temperature at all timesbetween the temperatures Tc, and Te Therefore, when room temperatureremains within the range of the optimum temperature D, there occurs anelectrically nonconductive condition between the principle terminals 1and 2 of the silicon-control element A and also between the principletenninals 4 and 3 of the silicon-control element B so that neither thecooler M, nor the heater M may be actuated. Thus by the use of twoheater-type heat-sensitive elements S, and S, operable at differenttemperatures Tc, and Tc, due to sudden changes in resistance, it ispossible to control the voltage or current of the gates of thesilicon-control elements A and B disposed in the circuits of the coolerM, and the heater M,, thereby permitting automatic adjustment of eachtemperature of the cooler M, and the heater M,. It is also possible toselect any arbitrary range of temperatures by changing the variableresistances Rv, and Rv,.

In illustrating a modified form of the invention, the apparatus shown inFIG. 3 can be explained in the same manner as above.

Namely, the circuit of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is different fromthat shown in FIG. 1, only to such an extent that the electric sourcefor both heater-type heat-sensitive elements S, and S, is taken from thesecondary side of a trans former T.

In further detail, the transformer T is provided such that voltage fromthe electric source is provided on the primary coil L, of thetransformer T and at the secondary coils L, and L thereof are providedthe heat-sensitive semiconductors Rt, and Rt, of both heater-typeheat-sensitive elements S, and S, and the resistors R, and R in series.Heating bodies Rh, and Rh, and a variable resistor Ru are connected inseries across the voltage source E.

Then the gate terminal of the silicon-control element A is connected tothe junction between the heat-sensitive semiconductor Rt, and theresistor R, on one hand. On the other hand, the heat-sensitivesemiconductor Rt, is disposed between the gate terminal of thesilicon-control element B and the principle terminal 3 so that the gateof the silicon-control element B can be operated by changing the voltageof the heat-sensitive semiconductor Rt In this instance, the apparatusis characterized by the fact that the transformer T makes it possible toprovide high voltage directly and moreover, both silicon-controlelements A and B can be controlled by the low-gate voltages provided.

When the heating capacities of the heating bodies of the heater-typeheat-sensitive semiconductors S, and S, are different from each other,the heating bodies Rh, and Rh, are connected together in series so thatthe electric current flowing in the circuit can be adjusted by means ofthe variable resistor Rv, thereby permitting the adjustment of the rangeof temperature D between the temperatures Tc, and Tc, due to suddenchange in temperature of the characteristics a and b of resistance andtemperature to control room temperature in an automatic manner, as shownin FIG. 2.

Therefore, in like manner, as shown in FIG. 1, all the abovementionedoperations occur in sequence in such a manner that when room temperatureis higher than the temperature Tc,, the resistance of heat-sensitivesemiconductor Rt, decreases such that R, Rt, until the voltage at bothends of the resistor R, can be provided between the terminal of gate ofthe silicon-control element A and the principle terminal 1 thereof andthe element A becomes electrically conductive between the principleterminal 1 and the other principle terminal 2 thereof, whereby cooler M,can be actuated. At the same time, the resistance of the otherheat-sensitive semiconductor Rt decreases its such that R,, Rt, untilvoltage is almost provided on both ends of the resistor R, andtherefore, voltage is not provided at the gate of the silicon-controlelement B, which is thus electrically nonconductive between theprinciple terminal 3 and the principle terminal 4, and the heater M,cannot be actuated.

Moreover, when room temperature is lower than the temperature Tc then asR, Rt, and R, Rtwhereby voltage on the secondary side L acts on theheat-sensitive semiconductor Rt, thus producing a gate voltage. Thus, anelectrically conductive condition exists between the principle terminals3 and 4 of the silicon-control element 8, thereby actuating the heaterM,. In addition, the voltage of the secondary coil L, acts on both endsof the heatsensitive semiconductor Rt, until insufficient voltage isprovided to the gate of the silicon-control element A. which thusbecomes electrically nonconductive between the principle terminals 1 and2, thereby automatically controlling room temperature without actuatingthe cooler M,. Also, when room temperature remains within the range ofthe temperatures from Tc, to Tc,, due to sudden change in resistance.both the cooler M, and heater M, can be maintained in the nonactuatedcondition.

FIG. 4 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention,wherein a high-voltage source can be provided directly using a stepdowntransformer. In this case, voltage E from the electric source isprovided to the primary coil L, of the transformer T. The heating bodyRh, of the heater-type heat-sensitive element S, is connected to thesecondary coil L, through the resistor R and a variable resistor Rv,,and moreover, the heat-sensitive semiconductor Rt, of the heatsensitiveelement S, is connected to the heating body Rh, in parallel through theresistor R, in series. The principle terminals of the silicon-controlelement A are connected to the circuit of the cooler M,. The junction ofthe heat-sensitive semiconductor Rt, and the resistor R, connected tothe gate of silicon-control element A connected to the circuit of thecooler M,. The variable resistor Rv, and the heating body Rh, of theheater-type heat-sensitive element 8, are in series to the Qthersecondary coil L The heat-sensitive semiconductor Rt, is connected tothe heating body Rh, in parallel through the resistor R, The junctionbetween the heat-sensitive semiconductor Rt, and the resistor R, isconnected to the gate of the silicon-control element B connected to thecircuit of the heater M,, whereby it is made possible to control boththe silicon-control elements A and B due to the change in resistance ofthe heat-sensitive semiconductors Rt and Rt, in the heatertypeheat-sensitive elements S, and 8,, respectively.

in this instance, similar to what is shown in FIG. 3, the transformer Tmakes it possible to provide high voltage on the apparatus directly, andalso similar to FIG. 1, it is possible to operate both thesilicon-control elements A and B using voltage control and currentcontrol in combination. Thus the explanation of operation made inconnection with FIG. 1 is applicable to the embodiment of FIG. 4.

In this way, the present invention is intended to provide an apparatusfor automatically adjusting temperatures wherein room temperature can beadjusted within an established range of temperatures using twoheat-sensitive elements of the heater-type causing actuable at differenttemperatures due to the change in electric resistance, therebyautomatically controlling the operation of a cooler and a heater andpermitting free selection and change in the upper and lower limits ofthe optimum temperature D at will by adjusting indirectly the heatingtemperature of the heater-type heat-sensitive elements. The presentinvention provides an apparatus for controlling temperatures, which iscapable of changing the aforesaid range of temperature D and ensuring amarked effeet and action thereof.

At the same time, it is apparent that other improvements andmodifications of the present invention can be made without departingfrom the spirit or scope thereof.

What is claimed is: v

1. An apparatus for automatically adjusting room temperatures comprisingan electric source; a cooler and a first siliconcontrol element havingtwo principle terminals and a gate terminal connected across saidelectric source; a first heater-type heat-sensitive element including afirst heating body and a first heat-sensitive semiconductor across saidelectric source, said first heat-sensitive semiconductor being connectedto said gate terminal of said first silicon-control element; a heaterand a second silicon-control element having two principle terminals anda gate terminal connected across said electric source; and a secondheater-type heat-sensitive element ineluding a second heafing body and asecond heat-sensitive semiconductor across said electric source, saidsecond heatsensitive semiconductor being connected to said gate terminalof said second silicon-control element, the resistance of said secondheating element being different from the resistance of said firstheating element; wherein said first and second heater-typeheat-sensitive elements are adapted to be actuated at differentpredetermined temperatures to selectively cause said first or secondsilicon-control elements to be electrically conductive, therebyoperating said cooler or said heater.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a firsttemperature-compensating resistor and a first variable resistorconnected in series with said first heating body across said electricsource, said first heat-sensitive semiconductor being connected to thejunction of said first heating body and said firsttemperature-compensating resistor; a second variable resistor connectedin series with said second heating body across said electric source; anda second temperature-compensating resistor connected to the junctionbetween said second heating body and said second variable resistor andthe junction between said second heat-sensitive semiconductor and saidgate terminal of said second silicon-control element.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric sourcecomprises a transformer having a primary coil and first and secondsecondary coils; and further comprising a variable resistor connected inseries with said first and second heating bodies across said primarycoil; a first temperature-compensatin resistor in series with said firstsecond coil and in par e1 with said first heat-sensitive semrcon uctor;and a second temperature-compensating resistor in parallel with saidsecond heat-sensitive semiconductor, said second heatsensitivesemiconductor being in series with said second secondary coil.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric sourcecomprises a stepdown transfonner having a primary coil and first andsecond secondary coils; and further comprising a first variable resistorin series with said first secondary coil; a second variable resistor inseries with said second secondary coil; a first temperature-compensatingresistor connected to said first heat-sensitive semiconductor at thejunction thereof with said gate terminal of said first silicon controlelement; and a second temperature-compensating resistor connected tosaid second heat-sensitive semiconductor at the junction thereof withsaid gate terminal of said second siliconcontrol element.

1. An apparatus for automatically adjusting room temperatures comprisingan electric source; a cooler and a first siliconcontrol element havingtwo principle terminals and a gate terminal connected across saidelectric source; a first heatertype heat-sensitive element including afirst heating body and a first heat-sensitive semiconductor across saidelectric source, said first heat-sensitive semiconductor being connectedto said gate terminal of said first silicon-control element; a heaterand a second silicon-control element having two principle terminals anda gate terminal connected across said electric source; and a secondheater-type heat-sensitive element including a second heating body and asecond heat-sensitive semiconductor across said electric source, saidsecond heat-sensitive semiconductor being connected to said gateterminal of said second siliconcontrol element, the resistance of saidsecond heating element being different from the resistance of said firstheating element; wherein said first and second heater-typeheat-sensitive elements are adapted to be actuated at differentpredetermined temperatures to selectively cause said first or secondsiliconcontrol elements to be electrically conductive, thereby operatingsaid cooler or said heater.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,further comprising a first temperature-compensating resistor and a firstvariable resistor connected in series with said first heating bodyacross said electric source, said first heat-sensitive semiconductorbeing connected to the junction of said first heating body and saidfirst temperature-compensating resistor; a second variable resistorconnected in series with said second heating body across said electricsource; and a second temperature-compensating resistor connected to thejunction between said second heating body and said second variableresistor and the junction between said second heat-sensitivesemiconductor and said gate terminal of said second silicon-controlelement.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electricsource comprises a transformer having a primary coil and first andsecond secondary coils; and further comprising a variable resistorconnected in series with said first and second heating bodies acrosssaid primary coil; a first temperature-compensating resistor in serieswith said first secondary coil and in parallel with said firstheat-sensitive semiconductor; and a second temperature-compensatingresistor in parallel with said second heat-sensitive semiconductor, saidsecond heat-sensitive semiconductor being in series with said secondsecondary coil.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidelectric source comprises a stepdown transformer having a primary coiland first and second secondary coils; and further comprising a firstvariable resistor in series with said first secondary coil; a secondvariable resistor in series with said second secondary coil; a firsttemperature-compensating resistor connected to said first heat-sensitivesemiconductor at the junction thereof with said gate terminal of saidfirst silicon control element; and a second temperature-compensatingresistor connected to said second heat-sensitive semiconductor at thejunction thereof with said gate terminal of said second silicon-controlelement.